Cable clamp



July 3,1928.

, J- S.- TAYLOR cABLE cum l Filed Oct. 23. 1926 2 mtssneet a Patented July 3, 1928.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

[li/MES S. TAYLOR, OF PONGA CITY, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LORY J. MILDREN, OF PONGA CITY, OKLAHOMA.

CABLE CLAMP.

Application filed October 23, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in wire rope supporting clamps.

rthe primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved drilling clamp for the supporting of drill cables and the like, embodying improved means whereby an enormous pressure may be brought to bear upon a pair of clamping jaws.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved wire rope snpportine clamp, including means to obtain practically a right angled purchase upon a drill cable or line, and the novel arrangement of mounting jaws upon a supporting body.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved means for mounting the jaw constructions of a drill cable clamp, so that the jaw constructions will move absolutely in unison to secure a correct and uniform pressure upon the cable.

Cther objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of the improved wire cable clamp, showing the jaws of the same in clamping relation upon a cable.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section, of the improved wire rope supporting clamp in a clamping position.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the kline 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view similar to the view illustrated in Figure 3, with the jaw partsof the clamp in an open relation.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a novel type of clamping jaw embodied in this invention.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the inan- CII ner of mounting each jaw in the body of the;

embodiment of the invention, the letter A Serial No. 143,690.

may generally designate the improved plamp which may include a supporting body B, having clamp jaws C and D pivotally mounted thereon for the gripping of a cable E; means F being provided for relatively adjusting the location of the jaws C ani/l D in the body B, for clamping and clamp release purposes. a The body B, as well as other parts of the invention, is made of durable metal construction, of a nature best adapted to support the heavy load of the cable and drill tools. The body B includes the substantially concave-convex portion 10, having one face thereof concaved, and at opposite side edges thereof the same being provided with forwardly extending flanges 12 and 13.` throughout the height of the portion 10, to define a channel 14, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. Each of the flanges 12 and 13, on the facing'sides thereof, is provided with upper and lower convex extensions 15 and 16, and a relatively longer intermediate convex extension 17. all of which extensions are apertured at 18 in aligning relation, for receivingr jaw pivot pins 19 therethrough, for pivoting the C and D thereto as will be subsequently mentioned. The jaw extensions 15, 16 and 17 of each body flange 1Q, and 13, are spaced, providing the space 21 between the upper and intermediate extensions, and the space 22 between the lower and intermediate extensions, and which spaces are adapted to receive the segmental externally convexed extensions 23 and 24 respectivoly, of the jaws C and D, as will be subsequently described. The top and bottom surfaces of the body B are preferably fiat and parallel, and the body B, preferably at the flanges 12 and 1B, is provided with upstanding hooks 29 and 80, respectively on the flanges 142 and 13, which are extended laterally beyond the outer surfaces of the flanges 12 and 18 in a nonobstructing relation with respect to the channel 14 of the body B, extended, and 4which hooks 29 and 30 are adapted to receive the conventional reins for suspending the drill clamp from the temper screws of the well drilling apparatus.

The jaw constructions C and D are formed in lefts and rights respectively, and have l j l their respective bearings on the flanges 12 and 13. These jaws are of the same general construction, including the main portioni 35, provided with one side edge thereof concave at 36, longitudinally thereof, from the top surface to the bottom surface of the main portion 35; the segmental lextensions 23 and 24 above mentioned projecting beyond the concavity 36, for fitting in the spaces 21 and 22 of the flanges 12 and` 13 of the body B, above mentioned'. The radius from which the concavity 36 is formed, is equal to the radii of the convex edges of the extensions 15, 16 and 17 above inentioned, so that they jaw constructions C and D have an accurate bearing on the body B, for lpivotal action. lWhen the jaws C aud D are assembled on their respective bearing flanges 12 and 13 of the body B, the aligning apertures 18 of the extensions 15, 16 and 17, and apertures of the jaw bearing extensions 23 and 24 receive the pintles or pivot pins 19 above described, to positively pivot the jaws C and D on pivot axes which.

will not sh-ift. Notwithstanding the provision of the pintle pins 19, the wear does not take place upon these pi'ntle pins, but takes place upon the convex surfaces of the extensions 15, 16 and 17 bearing in the concave surfaces 36 of the jaw main portions 35, as is illustrated in the various views of the drawing.

Each of the j aw constructions C and D includes the relatively long arm 4() extending therefrom, which are adapted to lie substantially at right angles to a line drawn between the pintle pins 19 of said jaws C' and D, when the jawsare closed. VThese arms 4() gradually increase in thickness from their outer ends towards the main portions 35 of the jaws, and the main portions of the jaws are of course thicker than any portion of the arms 40, as is illustrated in the drawing. The jaws C and D on their facing sides of the main-portions 35 are provided with concavities 45 and 46a respectively longitudinally thereof, which 'receive therein liners 46. The liners 46 are as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing, the same being elongated, of concave-convex formation, having the upper ends thereof flanged at 48 to overlie the top surfaces of the jaws C and D, in order to properly support said liners. Each of the liners 46 intermediate the ends thereof is provided with a. thickened portion 49, 'received within a suitable recess 51 provided inwardly of the concave surfaces 45 and 46a of the jaws; the thickened portion 49 being providedv with screw threaded openings 54 for receiving supporting and set screws 55,'detachably carried by the main rportions 35 of the jaws C and D, and adjustable from adjacent the juncture of the arms 46 with the portions 35, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing, in order to clamp and hold the liners in place in their respective recesses 45 and 46 of the jaws C and D. The liners 46 are concavoconvex in formation, and the same are complementary, to provide a passageway 55 therethrough, which may receive the wire cable E or other element; the passageway 55 being increased or decreased in size according to theprelative pivoting of the jaw constructions C and D on the pintles 19, as is readily apparent.

The placement of the recesses 45 and 46a and the dispositionV of the liners 46 therein is so located with respect to the pintle pins 19 of the jaws C and D, that when the jaws C and D are closed in a clamping relation upon the cable E, the passageway 55 will be intersected by a liner drawn from the pivot axis of one jaw to the pivot axis of the other jaw. In fact, in the device as used the most desirable arrangement is that when the jaws C and D commence to clamp upon the cable E to support the same, the center of the cable, or the center of the passageway 55 receiving the same, will be located about one-quarter of an inch forwardly from a line drawn straight between the pivot axes of the jaws C and D, and it is to be noted in this connection that the cable E is thus supported forwardly of the plane intersecting the pivot axes of the jaws C and D,'at the opposite' side of such plane from the body B. In this connection the cable receiving passageway 55 is entirely received within the channel 14 provided by the body B.. rlhis arrangement insures practically a right angled purchase of the lever-jaws C and D on the cable, so that as the jaws C and D are forced together the most powerful clamping action takes place immediately as the center of the passageway 55 approaches thc' straight line drawn between the pivot axes of the jaw constructions C and D, and due to thel novel arrangement of parts thecenter of the passageway maypractically approach this straight line, but will neverdo so, due to the limiting movement which the convex rear surfaces have upon the jaws, hy engaging the coucave surface 11 of the body B, as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

rl`he means F for clamping the jaws C and D upon the cable may include conventional constructions such as a yoke pivoted on a pintle pin 66 which is supported on a lateral extending apertured portion 67 of one arm 40. The yoke 65 may be swung to receive the forward end of the other arm 40 therein, and the yoke 65 supports the clamp adjusting screw 68, which is supported in a screw threaded opening 69 of the yoke, so that the end 70 of said screw 63 may be set against a seat 71 at the outer side of the arm-40 of the jaw construction D, in order that the jaw constructions C and il ll D may be relatively moved together for clamping on the cable E, as is readily apparent.

Means is provided to insure an absolutely uniform opening and closing of the aw constructions C and D, in order to produce an 'eflicient uniform clamping action of both jaws on the cable E, and to avoid the eccentric pivot and clamping action which some types of clamjs have upon the cable, very often resulting in the releasing of the `cable when the jaws relatively move to adjust themselves to the strain of supporting the cable. in order to provide for such uniform movement of the jaws l construct the jaw body of the jaw construction D with a linger -i located on the face of the por-v tion thereof which faces the portion of the other aw, which extends beyond the plane of the side of the main portion 35 of the jaw construction D, and it is adapted to operate in a suitable recess i5 provided in the portion 35 of the construction C, inwardly of the face of the portion of said jaw C which faces the concave surface il of the body B, so that the linger T4; may be said to engage behind the jaw construction C, in order that upon movement of the jaw construction D outwardly, the jaw construction C will be moved outwardly therewith.

In similar manner the jaw C is provided with a finger projection in spaced relation below the recess 75 thereon7 which eX- tends beyond the plane of the groove in the liner ab, in order to engage in a recess or socket 8l provided therefor in the facing and rear surfaces of the body 35 of the jaw construction D. The faces of the projections 74 and 80 and the surfaces on which they ride in the sockets or recesses 75 and 551 are convened, to facilitate operation7 as illustrated in Figure 5.

From 'the foregoing description of the fingers or projections 74; and 80, and the manner in which they are relatively located on the jaws, it is apparent that any inner and outer movement of the j'aws will be effected in the same degree, so that there cannot be any movement of either jaw without a similar movement of the other ja-w.

It will be noted that the jaws are of the same height as the body portion B. This provides a very compact arrangement, and the factthat in the article as used the center of the passageway in which the rope is clamped is one-fourth of an inch from a straight line drawn between the two pivot axes of the jaw constructions provides what has been found to be the most efficient arrangement.

The jaws C and D are in rocking edge engagement during normal clamping and releasing action on the cable at a location behind the cable receiving grooves of the liners.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit oi" the invention or the scope of the claims.

l. claim:

l.. A cable clamp comprising a supporting body having spaced forwardly extending flanges, a pair of jaw constructions arranged on the body between said flanges, one of each of which bears on one of each of said flanges, said jaws and flanges being constructed to pivotally support the jaw constructions on definitely spaced axes, the jaws having the facing surfaces thereof provided with clamp receiving recesses, and means for moving said jaw constructions together or away from each other for clamping or releasing a cable with respect to said cable receiving recesses, the cable receiving re` cesses when in a cable clamping and receiving position having the center of said cable receiving recess disposed forwardly of a straight line drawn between the pivot axes of said jaw construction with the straight lii'ieeccentrically intersecting said cable receiving recess.

2. ln a cable clamp the combination of a supporting body having spaced forwardly extending fianges to provide a channel groove therebetween, jaws pivotally mounted in said channel groove upon the facing sides` of said flanges, said jaws having cable receiving recesses defining a cable receiving passageway in the facing' surfaces thereof, means on the jaws rearwardly of said cable receiving passageway for insuring that the jaws will have uniform movement with respect to each other and with respect to the body, and means for relatively moving said jaws into a cable clamping relation.

3. ln a` cable clamp the combination of a supporting body, a pair of jaws pivoted on the body, said jaws having cable receiving recesses to define a able receiving passageway in the facing surfaces thereof, means on the'jaw constructions at one side of said passageway for moving the jaws into a cable clamping relation, rigid projections on each of the jaws at the opposite side of the passageway from said last mentioned means respectively engaging behind the jaws on which they are not rigidly mounted, said projections and jaws having engageable convex surfaces to facilitate sliding.

el.. In a cable clamp the combination of a supporting body, a pair of jaws pivoted on the body having recesses for receiving a cable, means to move the jaws into a clamping relation on the cable, each of said jaws having notches therein at the opposite sides of the cable recesses from said last mentioned means, and each of said jaws having projections at the opposite side of the recesses from said last mentioned means for projections intersecting said recesses, a pair of jaws, each of said jaws having spaced apertured ears for reception in the recesses of said flanges to align `the apertures therewith with the apertures of said projections,

pivot pins pivoting' the jaws on said flanges in the space therebetween, said jaws having facing grooves to define a cable receiving passageway, and ineans 'for relatively nioving said jaws to expand or contract said passageway for cable clanip and release purposes.

6. In a cable clamp the combination of a remesa supporting body having spaced forwardly extending flanges to define a groove therebe` tween, a pair of jaws pivoted on said flanges in the groove, lsaid jaws having facing recesses. defining a cable receiving passageway, means to inove the jaws into a claniping relation, and upwardly extending rein receiving hooks onl each of said flanges and late-rally opening and extending in an opposite direction from said jaws.

7. A cable claxnp comprising a substantially channel: shaped supporting body having a kwide shallow channel passageway therein, the body at opposite sides of the channel having apertured lugs projecting into the channel, and substantially L-shaped operating levers pivoted directly in said channel on said lugs, said operating levers in the facing sides having grooves providing a cable receiving recess.

JAMES s. TAYLOR. 

